Winter Workshops

 

Despite the cold weather winter is ideal for garden basketry workshops. There is plenty of useful materials and apart from building outdoor structures you can use your creativity indoors.

Weaving Magic series of 3 workshops over consecutive Sundays saw the participants acquire a variety of new skills. Starting with string or 2ply.After a short while many lengths of string was produced.

Next challenge was tension trays 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then outdoors  for fence and some random weaving.

  

 

Next challenge was a rib basket 

At times it was very quite as they all concentrated. Despite my advice of making a SMALL rib basket only one student completed her basket as the rest managed larger baskets and hopefully they will compete them soon and send me the photos.

All  in all the workshops where a successful foray into sharing my skills.

Showcasing Basketry in three different ways at one event.

The Royal Adelaide Show hosts competition in all sorts of arts and crafts.The basketry has 4 sub sections and I was extremely shocked but very pleases to win  3 first places and Best in section

Sculpture article;- First –OVERALL Winner.

Best overall exhibit in basketry

Best article using basketry techniques made from plants grown in Australia

 

 

 

 

 

Basket with or without a handle equal First

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other article using basketry techniques;- First

 

 

 

 

 

As members of Basketry SA we where given a wonderful opportunity to create these 3 pod chairs for a display in the Royal Adelaide Show. We set to work on them at the beginning of June and had them complete by the beginning of September just perfect for the show . It was a great experience and learning curve as well as fun.  You can read details here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As well we had our own display where we demonstrated techniques,and gave talks. All very positive. see more here.

HILLS BASKET CASES

Basketry SA ‘s arm as now extended into the Adelaide Hills with the first meeting in September held  at Nairne.These do not replace the Wednesday & Sunday meetings but are gatherings aimed at offering another option to members.

 

It was a perfect day as the sky cleared and the sun shone for the first time for weeks encouraging 13 basketry members out for the day. We all created some basketry, shared some yummy soup for lunch, checked out the gardens and of course chatted which resulted in a lovely rounded experience.

In October we enjoyed a sunny Stirling garden ,lots of interesting projects and of course good company and food.

In November we were off to another hills area, Blackwood. The meeting coincided with Melbourne cup day so there was more food than usual along with champagne, lots of sharing as various projects took shape.

Hills Basket Cases meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 11am -3pm. Bring your basketry work, lunch to share( please no more than you can eat yourself !) and if you have finished a project or two recently bring them along for the show and tell.

If forecast temperature is above 35o C  or total fire ban then meeting will automatically be cancelled.

All members and new prospective members welcome.

Next meeting is at Bridgewater in December then to Heathfield in February . More information contact Deb 8339 2519

Lots of New Willow Basketry Projects.

A hardy group of Basketry  SA braved the winter chill to venture to the Adelaide Hills to collect some pieces of French basket willow from

 Nirvana’s willow house.With secateurs at hand they collected long straight branches, some coiled into buckets,some bundled up for frames or fences and some to take home to grow. Not all members made it down the valley selecting to sit on our winter sunny veranda and read a book.

Meanwhile we sniped and coiled away then shared  a yummy lunch before the winter cold drove us back up the hill. They bundled their willow collection into the cars  and set off  dreaming up wonderful new basketry projects.

In the near future I expect to see some willow creations evolve at regular meetings.